Bouteloua dactyloides (Nutt.) J.T. Columbus

Buffalograss, Buffalo grass

Buffalograss is a soft, gray-green or blue-green, perennial turf grass which grows 3-12 inches if left unmowed and spreads by rhizomes. This long-lived, warm-season, sod-forming grass has curly leaf blades, slender stems, and compact seed heads.

One of very few drought-tolerant North American grasses suitable for lawn use, and the only one widely available, Buffalograss has become very popular since the late 1980s. (Two other drought-tolerant native lawn grasses are Blue Grama/B. gracilis and Curly Mesquite Grass/Hilaria belangeri.) Buffalograss does best in clay loam, where it can survive on as little as one and a half inches of rainfall per month. In areas with even less rainfall, Buffalograss is sometimes mixed with the more drought-tolerant Blue Grama (B. gracilis) to insure solid color through the dry season. Cultivars Texoka and Comanche were bred for forage and can reach 12 inches. 609, Prairie, and Stampede are lawn selections. Stampede doesnt get taller than 4 inches. Buffalograss lawns can be mowed or left to billow softly in the wind.

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Low , Medium Light Requirement: Sun Soil Moisture: Dry CaCO3 Tolerance: High Drought Tolerance: High Soil Description: Well-drained loam, clay, caliche, or limestone. Does not like sand. Conditions Comments: Requires only one and a half inches of rain per month to stay green. Will go dormant during droughts and in winter.

Benefit

Use Ornamental: A soft, fine-leaved, low-maintenace, drought-tolerant turf grass that can be mowed. Many cultivars have been selected for lawn use, almost entirely male strains so there wont be seedheads. Use Wildlife: Foliage cured on the ground furnishes winter browse for mammals. Seeds and leaves are food and nesting material for birds. Interesting Foliage: yesAttracts: Birds , Butterflies Larval Host: Green Skipper butterfly.

Butterflies and Moths of North America (BAMONA)

Propagation

Propagation Material: Seeds Description: Sow treated seed from April to September, preferably in clay loam. If on caliche, sow thickly. Keep moist until established. Seed requires light for germination. Old seed germinates better than young seed. Seed Treatment: Seeds should be cold-moist stratified at 40 degrees for six weeks. Commercially Avail: yesMaintenance: Buffalograss can be mowed once or twice per season to maintain height.

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